Headphone with microphone

ABSTRACT

A headphone with microphone which is particularly suitable for use in connection with telephone apparatus includes a carrying ear hanger having a disc member which is adapted to the back of the ear and a hook member that extends forward on the topside of the ear when in a working position. A microphone and earphone are placed in a microtelephone arm which is connected to the ear hanger via a hinge, and a spring connected with the hinge holds the earphone against a user&#39;s ear and thus the microphone close to the user&#39;s mouth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a headphone with a microphone,particularly for use instead of the handsets of telephone apparatus, andcomprising a microphone, an earphone and means for maintaining theheadphone on the head of the user, the maintaining means comprising acarrying ear hanger in the form of a disc-like member adapted to theback of the ear and a hook member extending forward on the topside ofthe ear when in a working position.

Different headphones, so-called handfree headsets or headphones, arewell known wherein one or two earphones (telephones) are mounted on aband which is placed above or below the head of the user, while amicrophone is placed in an arm which is cantilevered by the band and insuch a manner that it can be turned to a position in front of the user'smouth. Such headphones are fairly complicated to place in position onthe head and to remove again, and adjustment is usually always requiredwith each use. However, they are particularly inexpedient in that theband when carried above the head collides with the hair style, and whencarried below the head the entire weight of the headset is carried bythe auditory ducts of the user via the attachment of the earpieces. Inthis connection, a further considerable drawback consists of theconstant pressure exerted on the ears, causing nuisance by long termuse, e.g., a whole day.

Another prior art headphone of the above-mentioned type (see, forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,118) consists of a housing of thebehind-the-ear-hearing-aid-type which is placed behind the ear andhaving tube or conduit connections to the microphone and earphone,respectively, the latter transmitting sound via a conduit which isinserted into the auditory duct and being fixed in the duct with aconventional earplug. One drawback of this construction is that the earplug inserted into the ear exerts a constant pressure in the auditoryduct and it becomes dirty from earwax, so that for hygienic reasons itcan normally only be used by one person but has to be replaced when usedby others. The insertion of such a foreign body constituted by theearplug into the auditory duct may sometimes cause the development ofeczema or other irritations. The use of such headphones with earplugswill normally be restricted to a limited period due to the pressureand/or irritation. Finally, also the actual placing of the headphone onthe user's head is fairly complicated.

This is not the case in a further known headphone with microphone whichis maintained on the user's head solely by an earplug in connection withthe earphone (telephone) which is inserted into the auditory duct. Thetelephone is provided with an arm which extends towards the user's mouthwhen in a working position and which at the end carries the microphone.This embodiment is inexpedient like the previous one in that the earplugbecomes dirty from earwax and furthermore causes the above-mentionedpressure and skin nuisances, and the entire headset is carried by theearplug which rests in the auditory duct.

DE-A 3.208.497 discloses a headphone comprising an on an arm which isconnected to an ear hanger via a spring-loaded hinge and a connectingmember keeping a given distance between the ear hanger and the earphone.When the headphone is in working position, the arm carrying the earphoneand the axis of the hinge are substantially vertical to enable theearphone to be pivotally adjusted in the horizontal plan relative to theear hanger to an appropriate angular position against the ear.

In a still further prior art headphone with microphone (see U.S. Pat.No. 3,862,378) the earphone is located in a housing intended for placingin front of and upon the user's ear. A mouth tube extends from thehousing towards the user's mouth where it is provided with a microphone.An ear hook is pivotally connected to the housing-and is urged by aspring against the back of the ear towards the housing so that the earis kept clamped between the housing and the ear hook.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The drawbacks of the above-mentioned constructions are avoided by theheadphone according to the invention which is characterized in that theearphone and the microphone are located in a microtelephone armconnected via a spring-loaded hinge to the ear hanger, the axis of thehinge being substantially parallel to the plane of the ear hanger andsubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of themicrotelephone arm.

Such a headphone is advantageous inter alia in that nothing is insertedinto the auditory duct. The spring-loaded hinge ensures that theearphone from outside fits tightly to the ear and at the same time holdsthe microphone in the correct position. The placing of the headphoneonto the user's head is very simple as the ear hanger is simply placedabove and behind the ear while the microtelephone arm is in the openposition. The arm is subsequently turned inwards to its working positionand normally no adjustment is required afterwards. Thus, the headphonehas the simplicity which is required since such a headphone will be puton and taken off several times a day. As the entire headphone can bedesigned with a very low weight and as no pressure is exerted on or inthe ear, the headphone may thus be used continuously for long periods.

In an embodiment according to the invention the ear hanger can beconverted to the right and left ear, respectively, by a simple operationwhich can be performed by the user without auxiliary tools with thesubsequent advantages in connection with simplified storage ofcomponents, etc.

In a further embodiment according to the invention the disc and hookmembers of the ear hanger are pivotably mounted on the microtelephonearm and an interpiece mounted on the arm, respectively. Thus, theconversion may be effected in a simple manner without the use of tools.This also applies to another embodiment wherein the hook member isdetachably connected with one or the other end of the disc member of theear hanger which in this case is symmetrically formed and mounted inrelation to the microtelephone arm.

Even though the ear hanger will suit most users' ears, the disc memberof the ear hanger may be subject to some adjustability in relation tothe microtelephone arm so that precise adaption to the ear will alwaysbe obtainable.

Of course, the earphone must be placed against the auditory duct when inworking position and this will normally happen right away, but accordingto the invention the earpiece located outside the earphone may beexcentrically rotatably connected with the microtelephone arm, thusmaking it possible to compensate for any small deviations with regard tothe location of the auditory duct of some persons.

To facilitate the placing of the headphone, the microtelephone arm mayhave an open, turned away resting position in relation to the earhanger. Thus, the headphone may be easily placed on the ear andsubsequently the microtelephone arm may be brought from resting positionto abutting position against the ear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in further detail with reference tothe drawing wherein

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a headphone with microphone according tothe invention in a side view and with the ear hanger turned away fromworking position and placed in an intermediate position between theright and left position.

FIG. 2 shows the same headphone with the ear hanger in a workingposition turned 90° in relation to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the headphone according to theinvention in view similar to FIG. 2 and

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of the FIG. 3 seen from below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The headphone shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing consists of amicrotelephone arm 1 wherein cavities at 2 and 3 are provided with anearphone and a microphone, respectively, which may be of conventionalminiature size. The microphone and earphone are connected with atelephone apparatus via a cord 4. The microphone and the earphone mayoptionally be mounted on the arm 1 via a connector for easy replacementin case of defect or damage.

In connection with the earphone (at 2) the arm 1 is provided with aprojection 5 having a sound exit. As shown, the projection may bespherical and is designed to carry a detachable, replaceable earpiece 6,e.g. of plastics, foam material or the like, in various sizes and shapesas generally known to fit against the user's ear.

The arm 1 is via a hinge 7 connected with an ear hanger which isgenerally designated by 8 and which comprises an ear hanger disc member9 determined to be placed behind the user's ear, the internal curve ofthe disc corresponding to the curve of the back of the ear. The discmember 9 has an extension in the form of a hook member 10 which duringoperation extends over the ear so that the members 9 and 10 togetherensure that the headphone is hooked on the ear in a stable and safemanner.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 the members 9, 10 are not directlybut via an interpiece 11 connected to the microtelephone arm 1, the oneend of the interpiece forming part of the hinge 7 in which a springmeans is placed (not shown in the drawing) holding the earpiece 6against the user's ear once the headphone is positioned. In connectionwith the spring means the hinge may furthermore have an open restingposition wherein the microtelephone arm remains turned away from theuser's head until it is passed into a working position.

The ear hanger 8-10 is connected with the other end of the interpiece 11via a pivot joint 12 comprising also a spring means (not shown) whichmaintains the ear hanger in its rotational positions and yet permitsthese. In this simple manner the ear hanger can be adapted to use oneither the right or left ear. By means of clearances in the hinge aslight displacement is possible of the disc member 9, 10 in relation tothe end of the interpiece so that a small adjustment to the user's earis obtained, thus making it possible to place the earphone exactly inline with the auditory duct. By means of intermeshing cams and dents onthe surfaces facing each other on the ear hanger and the end portion ofthe interpiece, respectively, the displacement position in the hinge canbe maintained.

A further adjustment may be provided by an eccentrically rotatablemounting of the projection 5 opposite the earphone.

In another embodiment according to the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,the interpiece 11 shown in FIG. 1 is replaced by extensions of the arm1' and the ear hanger 8 which are directly connected via a hinge 7' witha spring means corresponding to the hinge 7 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In this case the hook member 10' of the ear hanger constitutes aseparate part which can be selectively connected with one or the otherend of the disc symmetrically formed member 9', e.g., by means of adovetail joint, thus making it possible to change the headphone to aleft and right ear device, respectively. The pivot joint 12 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 may thus be eliminated.

The invention provides a handfree microtelephone having a low weight andwhich is extremely simple to place on the head and to remove. The userhimself can adapt the headphone to either the right or left ear withoutthe use of any tools just as the other adjustments mentioned above canbe made, if desired. As the low weight of the unit is exclusivelycarried by the outer ear, the headphone can be used the whole daywithout nuisance of any kind.

The headphone can be modified by leaving out the microphone part, e.g.by ending the microphone arm 1 immediately after the earphone 2, thusmaking it possible to use the headphone as an earphone alone, e.g. inconnection with dictation machine where the easy placing of theheadphone onto the head and the comfortable wear without any pressure orother nuisances will be particularly advantageous for long term use.

I claim:
 1. A headphone with a microphone, particularly for use inconnection with telephone apparatus, and comprising a microphone, anearphone and means for maintaining the headphone on the user's head,said maintaining means comprising a carrying ear hanger in the form of adisc-like member adapted to the back of the ear and a hook memberextending forward on the topside of the ear when in working position,wherein the earphone and the microphone are located in a microtelephonearm connected via a spring-loaded hinge to the ear hanger, the axis ofsaid hinge being substantially parallel to the plane of said ear hangerand substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of themicrotelephone arm.
 2. A headphone according to claim 1, wherein the earhanger is convertible to the right and left ear, respectively.
 3. Aheadphone according to claim 2, wherein the disc member and the hookmember of the ear hanger are pivotably mounted on the microtelephonearm.
 4. A headphone according to claim 2, wherein the hook member isdetachably connected with one or the other end of the disc member of theear hanger, which is symmetrically formed and mounted in relation to themicrotelephone arm.
 5. A headphone according claim 1, wherein the earhanger has an open, turned away resting position.
 6. A headphoneaccording to claim 2, including an interpiece connected to saidmicrotelephone arm and wherein said ear hanger is pivotally mounted onsaid interpiece.